The Wealden Hall House in Lamberhusrt

LAMBERHURST, JEWEL OF THE HIGH WEALD - A NEW HISTORY OF LAMBERHURST BY ROGER PITCHFORK

THE WEALDEN HALL HOUSE IN LAMBERHURST

This type of building structure was the most popularly used in the High Weald, for manor and other important houses, particularly between 1300 and 1700. The area was full of forests containing oak, which was the most popular type of timber used in building due to its strength and resistance to rot; it was also cheaper and more readily available than stone. It was generally used as unseasoned or 'green' as it was easier to cut than seasoned wood.The technique was simple, yet flexible and consisted of building 'boxes' (rectangular sections of two vertical posts and two cross beams). These would be erected with the space between two 'box' frames, called a bay. The number of bays built would depend on the wealth of the client and would be used to symbolise his stature within the local society (28). Most buildings were three bays, but Coggers Hall, built for Thomas Cogger who owned the local cloth production industry, was originally a five bay structure..........................